10 Simple Ways To Make You Feel Good Instantly

Something crazy happens when you start to get older. You start to get out of bed and think, “Wow, I should actually accomplish something interesting and fulfilling today.”

Now, maybe you already feel like this or are frustrated at how you can’t seem to shake yourself out of those ugly moods you’ve been having periodically since you embarked on the journey of adult life. With all of the responsibilities and stresses life throws our way, we could all use some new habits and methods that promote ways to make us feel good instantly. Here are just a few:

1. Get off the internet.

Oh yes, that’s the first one. Just make sure you keep reading this article before you hold the power button down and run off into the fields.

It seems like a given that we spend far too much time on the Internet. I doubt anyone will combat me there. But we find it difficult to actually change this habit of tapping into the other world of fun and freedom that we call the worldwide web. And why would we want to? There are no limits or barriers within the Internet, and it allows you to live the life that reality bars you from at every turn.

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Of course, the downside is that nothing is good outside of moderation. Eventually, the pearls of the Internet fade away as we naturally crave something with substance and true gratification. Depression or even Generalized Anxiety Disorders may set in as we discover that the things we are putting our time and value into – virtual reality – don’t give us tangible returns in exchange.

So get off the Internet. Budget your time and your sanity wisely.

2. Take a day off from work.

One of the funniest comedians I’ve listened to in a while is John Mulaney. He said in a recent bit that cancelling plans gives you the same instantly good feeling as an illegal drug I won’t point out here or encourage use of, but you get the point. The reason we love to bail is because it feels fantastic.

That’s why you should responsibly take a day off from work by asking for a personal day. The one downside is that you’ll probably be tempted to take another day off not long after that (psychology is funny like that), so try to take a day off on Friday to extend your weekend. Otherwise, you’re just setting yourself up for a troublesome work week.

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3. Wear your best clothes.

For me, this would be a button down shirt tucked nicely into my best khakis with my swing dancing shoes laced in a double knot (we all have our things). We can be great judges of what makes us look good, which is why we sometimes save our best clothes for the best occasions.

Other times, we fall out of bed and just put on whatever is “comfortable.” Please. Take the mental effort to dress yourself nicely today, and you’ll notice how great you feel throughout the entire day. If your ego is really loving it, you may even find yourself wanting to do errands.

4. Dance.

You probably saw this coming when I dropped that line about swing dancing, but hear me out. Dancing has been proven to boost your mood and mental health. It doesn’t even matter if you’re good at it or not (great news for a lot of us). The act of exercising to music, in general, is an activity that refreshes most people, and the physical reward we get from that exercise just adds to the benefits.

5. Do something you’ve been putting off.

This can relate to all sorts of things, such as paying bills, errands, finding the love of your life, etc. But what you can do right now to feel great instantly is overcome your procrastinating ways and accomplish something. You’ll feel great about it because that’s one less thing weighing on your subconscious, especially if this is a task that really needed to be done.

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6. Practice smiling.

A friend once recommended to me that practicing your “charm” in front of a mirror is a great way of actually showing it in real life. I’m 99% sure he got this idea from The Sims, but I am unable to say that the idea is an incorrect phenomenon.

For whatever reason, finding ways to better ourselves and high self-esteem make us feel good, so get in front of your mirror and start practicing your smile (or recite a speech) to adjust how you come across. I won’t say that this activity is free from vanity, but your ego should be all right as long as this doesn’t devolve into a slew of bathroom selfies.

7. Clean your phone up.

In a way, this can be something you’ve been putting off (see #5), but we don’t usually think about organizing our phones. As a result, the chaos of miscellaneous apps we don’t use and pictures from that party that should no longer exist add up and make your phone a chore to navigate.

Playing the delete game is a great way to feel like you’ve simplified your life, getting rid of the redundancies on your phone that are clogging up space and setting you up for embarrassing moments when your family starts looking through your photo albums.

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8. Turn your phone off.

I’m not saying everyone should do this (I’m looking at you on-call doctors without pagers), but it’s a simple pleasure to be off the grid for a few hours. In fact, you may just want to boycott screens for an entire evening and go read a book or catch up with friends. And yes, if you’re out with your friends, turning your phone off is a great habit to get into that they will appreciate you for, even if they end up tapping away at their own phones the entire night.

9. Call your parents (or someone you love).

You don’t have to have the world’s longest conversation, but calling your parents, siblings, close friends and other loved ones can be a real mood changer, especially if this contrasts with your normal personality. I like to do this when I go grocery shopping so that I can talk to the siblings I never see anymore.

Another great practice is thanking someone you haven’t talked to in a while for all of the good they’ve done for you. Just prepare yourself if you do this with your mother and expect some tears to start leaking through your phone’s speakers.

10. Sing.

Whether you’re in the shower, your car, or somewhere else where human beings can’t reasonably hear you, belt out those off-key notes you’ve been keeping inside all day. Just don’t record it because that’s a way to feel bad instantly.

12 Best Brain Foods That Improve Memory and Boost Brain Power

Nutrition plays a vital role in brain function and staying sharp into the golden years. Personally, my husband is going through medical school, which is like a daily mental marathon. Like any good wife, I am always looking for things that will boost his memory fortitude so he does his best in school.

But you don’t have to be a med student to appreciate better brainiac brilliance. If you combine certain foods with good hydration, proper sleep and exercise, you may just rival Einstein and have a great memory in no time.

I’m going to reveal the list of foods coming out of the kitchen that can improve your memory and make you smarter.

Here are 12 best brain foods that improve memory:

1. Nuts

The American Journal of Epidemiology published a study linking higher intakes of vitamin E with the prevention on cognitive decline.[1]

Nuts like walnuts and almonds (along with other great foods like avocados) are a great source of vitamin E.

Cashews and sunflower seeds also contain an amino acid that reduces stress by boosting serotonin levels.

Walnuts even resemble the brain, just in case you forget the correlation, and are a great source of omega 3 fatty acids, which also improve your mental magnitude.

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2. Blueberries

Shown in studies at Tuffs University to benefit both short-term memory and coordination, blueberries pack quite a punch in a tiny blue package.[2]

When compared to other fruits and veggies, blueberries were found to have the highest amount of antioxidants (especially flavonoids), but strawberries, raspberries, and blackberries are also full of brain benefits.

3. Tomatoes

Tomatoes are packed full of the antioxidant lycopene, which has shown to help protect against free-radical damage most notably seen in dementia patients.

4. Broccoli

While all green veggies are important and rich in antioxidants and vitamin C, broccoli is a superfood even among these healthy choices.

Since your brain uses so much fuel (it’s only 3% of your body weight but uses up to 17% of your energy), it is more vulnerable to free-radical damage and antioxidants help eliminate this threat.

Broccoli is packed full of antioxidants, is well-known as a powerful cancer fighter and is also full of vitamin K, which is known to enhance cognitive function.

5. Foods Rich in Essential Fatty Acids

Your brain is the fattest organ (not counting the skin) in the human body, and is composed of 60% fat. That means that your brain needs essential fatty acids like DHA and EPA to repair and build up synapses associated with memory.

The body does not naturally produce essential fatty acids so we must get them in our diet.

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Eggs, flax, and oily fish like salmon, sardines, mackerel and herring are great natural sources of these powerful fatty acids. Eggs also contain choline, which is a necessary building block for the neurotransmitter acetylcholine, to help you recall information and concentrate.

6. Soy

Soy, along with many other whole foods mentioned here, are full of proteins that trigger neurotransmitters associated with memory.

Soy protein isolate is a concentrated form of the protein that can be found in powder, liquid, or supplement form.

Soy is valuable for improving memory and mental flexibility, so pour soy milk over your cereal and enjoy the benefits.

7. Dark chocolate

When it comes to chocolate, the darker the better. Try to aim for at least 70% cocoa. This yummy desert is rich in flavanol antioxidants which increase blood flow to the brain and shield brain cells from aging.

Take a look at this article if you want to know more benefits of dark chocolate:

8. Foods Rich in Vitamins: B vitamins, Folic Acid, Iron

Some great foods to obtain brain-boosting B vitamins, folic acid and iron are kale, chard, spinach and other dark leafy greens.

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B6, B12 and folic acid can reduce levels of homocysteine in the blood. Homocysteine increases are found in patients with cognitive impairment like Alzheimer’s, and high risk of stroke.

Studies showed when a group of elderly patients with mild cognitive impairment were given high doses of B6, B12, and folic acid, there was significant reduction in brain shrinkage compared to a similar placebo group.[3]

Other sources of B vitamins are liver, eggs, soybeans, lentils and green beans. Iron also helps accelerate brain function by carrying oxygen. If your brain doesn’t get enough oxygen, it can slow down and people can experience difficulty concentrating, diminished intellect, and a shorter attention span.

To get more iron in your diet, eat lean meats, beans, and iron-fortified cereals. Vitamin C helps in iron absorption, so don’t forget the fruits!

9. Foods Rich in Zinc

Zinc has constantly demonstrated its importance as a powerful nutrient in memory building and thinking. This mineral regulates communications between neurons and the hippocampus.

Zinc is deposited within nerve cells, with the highest concentrations found in the hippocampus, the part of the brain responsible for higher learning function and memory.

Some great sources of zinc are pumpkin seeds, liver, nuts, and peas.

10. Gingko biloba

This herb has been utilized for centuries in eastern culture and is best known for its memory boosting brawn.

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It can increase blood flow in the brain by dilating vessels, increasing oxygen supply and removing free radicals.

However, don’t expect results overnight: this may take a few weeks to build up in your system before you see improvements.

11. Green and black tea

Studies have shown that both green and black tea prevent the breakdown of acetylcholine—a key chemical involved in memory and lacking in Alzheimer’s patients.

Both teas appear to have the same affect on Alzheimer’s disease as many drugs utilized to combat the illness, but green tea wins out as its affects last a full week versus black tea which only lasts the day.